83 FR 31042 - Government National Mortgage Association: Loan Seasoning for Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities-Interpretive Rule

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 128 (July 3, 2018)

Page Range		31042-31045
FR Document		2018-14354
HUD is issuing this interpretive rule to clarify the scope of the provision of the recently enacted Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Act) that prohibits the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) from guaranteeing the timely payment of principal and interest on a security that is ``backed by a mortgage'' that fails to meet certain ``seasoning'' requirements. With this new amendment, questions have arisen as to the effect of this provision on Ginnie Mae's ability to guarantee Multiclass Securities where the trust assets consist of direct or indirect interests in certificates, previously lawfully guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, but with underlying mortgage loans that may not be in compliance with the seasoning requirements. This rule provides HUD's interpretation that the statutory provision does not prohibit Ginnie Mae from making guarantees in this context. Although interpretive rules are exempt from public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act, HUD nevertheless invites public comment on the interpretation provided in this rule.
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31042-31045]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14354]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 330

[Docket No. FR-6112-IA-01]


Government National Mortgage Association: Loan Seasoning for 
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities--Interpretive Rule

AGENCY: Office of General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Interpretive rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: HUD is issuing this interpretive rule to clarify the scope of 
the provision of the recently enacted Economic Growth, Regulatory 
Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Act) that prohibits the Government 
National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) from guaranteeing the timely 
payment of principal and interest on a security that is ``backed by a 
mortgage'' that fails to meet certain ``seasoning'' requirements. With 
this new amendment, questions have arisen as to the effect of this 
provision on Ginnie Mae's ability to guarantee Multiclass Securities 
where the trust assets consist of direct or indirect interests in 
certificates, previously lawfully guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, but with 
underlying mortgage loans that may not be in compliance with the 
seasoning requirements. This rule provides HUD's interpretation that 
the statutory provision does not prohibit Ginnie Mae from making 
guarantees in this context. Although interpretive rules are exempt from 
public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act, HUD nevertheless 
invites public comment on the interpretation provided in this rule.

DATES: 
    Effective date: This interpretive rule is effective June 29, 2018, 
and is applicable beginning June 25, 2018.
    Comment due date: August 2, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this interpretive rule to the Regulations Division, Office of General 
Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 
SW, Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410-0500. Communications must refer to 
the above docket number and title. There are two methods for submitting 
public comments. All submissions must refer to the above docket number 
and title.
    1. Submission of Comments by Mail. Comments may be submitted by 
mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 10276, 
Washington, DC 20410-0500. Due to security measures at all Federal 
agencies, however, submission of comments by mail often results in 
delayed delivery. To ensure timely receipt of comments, HUD recommends 
that comments submitted by mail be submitted at least two weeks in 
advance of the public comment deadline.
    2. Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may submit 
comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages commenters to submit 
comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments allows the 
commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, ensures timely 
receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them immediately available to 
the public. Comments submitted electronically through the 
www.regulations.gov website can be viewed by other commenters and 
interested members of the public. Commenters should follow the 
instructions provided on that site to submit comments electronically.
    Note: To receive consideration as public comments, comments must be 
submitted through one of the two methods specified above. Again, all 
submissions must refer to the docket number and title of the rule.
    No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable.
    Public Inspection of Public Comments. All properly submitted

[[Page 31043]]

comments and communications submitted to HUD will be available for 
public inspection and copying between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the 
above address. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters 
building, an appointment to review the public comments must be 
scheduled in advance by calling the Regulations Division at 202-708-
3055 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or 
hearing impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Copies of all comments submitted 
are available for inspection and downloading at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin M. Simpson, Associate General 
Counsel for Finance and Administrative Law, Office of General Counsel, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 
8150, Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202-402-2036. Persons with 
hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling 
the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Established by the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter 
Act (Ginnie Mae Charter),\1\ Ginnie Mae guarantees investors the timely 
payment of principal and interest on single class mortgage-backed 
securities (MBS) issued by private lenders and others that are backed 
by pools of mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by the U.S. Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Administration (FHA), 
U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Development (RD), and U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH). The 
Ginnie Mae guaranty, backed by the full faith and credit of the United 
States Government, which Ginnie Mae places on MBS lowers the cost of, 
and maintains the supply of, mortgage financing for such government-
backed loans. The authority for these guaranties is found in section 
306(g)(1) of the Ginnie Mae Charter.\2\ As stated in Ginnie Mae's All 
Participants Memorandum 18-04, any Ginnie Mae MBS with an issuance date 
of May 2018 or earlier is not affected by the Act. Further, any 
refinanced VA mortgage loan that does not meet the seasoning 
requirement contained in the Act, that was not backing a Ginnie Mae MBS 
prior to May 24, 2018, is ineligible to serve as MBS collateral.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 1716 et seq.
    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 1721(g)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The ``Multiclass Securities Program'' is a vehicle that further 
increases the liquidity of Ginnie Mae MBS and attracts new sources of 
capital for federally insured or guaranteed loans. Ginnie Mae 
Multiclass Securities are collateralized by trust assets that consist 
of direct or indirect interest in certificates with underlying FHA, VA, 
RD, and PIH mortgage loans (i.e., MBS or previously issued Multiclass 
Securities). Ginnie Mae Multiclass Securities direct principal and 
interest payments from the underlying MBS or previously-issued 
Multiclass Securities to classes (known as tranches) with different 
principal balances, interest rates, average lives, prepayment 
characteristics, and final maturities. This enables investors with 
different investment horizons, risk-reward preferences, and asset-
liability management requirements to purchase mortgage securities that 
are tailored to their needs. The authority for this program is also 
found in section 306(g)(1) of the Ginnie Mae Charter.
    On May 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Act.\3\ Title 
III of the Act contains several legislative protections for veterans, 
consumers and homeowners, including section 309, which largely 
incorporated the ``Protecting Veterans from Predatory Lending Act of 
2018.'' Section 309(b) of the Act amended section 306(g)(1) of the 
Ginnie Mae Charter \4\ to add the following sentence: ``The Association 
may not guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on a 
security that is backed by a mortgage insured or guaranteed under 
chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code,\5\ and that was refinanced 
until the later of the date that is 210 days after the date on which 
the first monthly payment is made on the mortgage being refinanced and 
the date on which 6 full monthly payments have been made on the 
mortgage being refinanced.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Public Law 115-174.
    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 1721(g)(1).
    \5\ 38 U.S.C. chapter 37 governs VA loans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This seasoning requirement was designed to deter lenders from 
encouraging veterans to refinance their VA mortgage loans often and 
repeatedly. This practice of ``churning'' led to faster prepayment 
speeds on the mortgages underlying Ginnie Mae MBS and Multiclass 
Securities, making these securities less valuable to investors. 
Increased prepayment speeds means that the underlying loans, and 
therefore a portion of the related securities, do not stay outstanding, 
at the agreed upon interest rates, as long as expected. This 
uncertainty adversely affects the investor expectations, resulting in 
low prices on the securities and therefore higher coupon rates for MBS 
and Multiclass Securities. The value to investors of the predictability 
of Ginnie Mae MBS and Multiclass Securities as opposed to alternatives 
is one reason, however, that interest rates on mortgage loans insured 
or guaranteed by VA, FHA, RD and PIH are kept at relatively low 
interest rates. Accordingly, ``churning'' was seen as detrimental to 
veterans not only because those who refinanced often did not realize 
that the overall refinance costs could outweigh the short-term 
benefits, but also because overall mortgage rates were higher than they 
would otherwise be in part because of the adverse impact, in the view 
of the investors, of higher prepayment speeds on the VA mortgage loans 
backing the Ginnie Mae MBS and Multiclass Securities.

II. This Interpretive Rule

    It is HUD's interpretation that as of the enactment of the Act, any 
VA refinanced mortgage loan that does not meet the seasoning 
requirements contained in section 309(b) of the Act is ineligible to 
serve as collateral for Ginnie Mae MBS. Ginnie Mae MBS guaranteed 
before the enactment of the Act, that contain VA refinanced mortgage 
loans that do not meet the seasoning requirements contained in the Act, 
are unaffected by the Act. For Multiclass Securities, the Act does not 
prohibit Ginnie Mae from guaranteeing Multiclass Securities where the 
trust assets consist of direct or indirect interests in Ginnie Mae 
guaranteed certificates with underlying VA mortgage loans that may not 
comply with the statutory seasoning requirement. As discussed more 
fully below, this reading of section 309(b) is supported by a close 
reading of the relevant statutory language. Further, and as discussed 
below, a contrary interpretation of section 309(b) of the Act would 
defeat the provision's purposes of restricting VA loan churning and 
protecting veterans.

A. Statutory Text

    HUD's interpretation is supported by a close reading of the 
statutory text of the Ginnie Mae Charter, section 309(b) of the Act, 
and section 309 more broadly.
    The language of section 309(b) of the Act differs in significant 
respect from the long-standing language in the Ginnie Mae Charter. 
Section 306(g)(1) of the Ginnie Mae Charter refers to the securities 
that Ginnie Mae is authorized

[[Page 31044]]

to guarantee as those ``backed by a trust or pool composed of 
mortgages,'' language that has long been understood by Congress and HUD 
to encompass both MBS and Multiclass Securities. See Letter from Nelson 
Diaz to Dwight P. Robinson (June 27, 1994). However, the language added 
by section 309(b) of the Act does not use similarly broad language--it 
refers only to those securities that are ``backed by a mortgage.'' It 
is a well-settled principle of statutory interpretation that ``the use 
of different words within the same statutory context strongly suggests 
that different meanings were intended.'' \6\ In addition, ``a statute 
should be constructed so that effect is given to all of its provisions, 
so that no part will be inoperative or superfluous, void or 
insignificant.'' \7\ Under these principles, Congress's decision to use 
only the words ``backed by a mortgage,'' as compared to ``backed by a 
trust or pool composed of mortgages,'' should be given meaning.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ United States v. Maria, 186 F.3d 65, 71 (2d Cir. 1999) 
(citing Crockett Telephone Co. v. F.C.C., 963 F.2d 1564, 1570 (D.C. 
Cir. 1992) and other cases); see also A. Scalia & B. Garner, Reading 
Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts 170 (2012) (``[W]here the 
document has used one term in one place, and a materially different 
term in another, the presumption is that the different term denotes 
a different idea.'').
    \7\ Marx v. General Revenue Corp., 568 U.S. 371, 392-93 (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To give meaning to the narrower language in section 309(b) of the 
Act, that provision should be read to reference a narrower class of 
securities (MBS) than all of the securities long understood to be 
covered by the broader language of section 306(g) the of Ginnie Mae 
Charter (both MBS and Multiclass Securities). Had Congress intended 
section 309(b) of the Act to encompass Multiclass Securities as well as 
MBS, it would have employed the broader language known to encompass 
both types of securities--i.e., ``backed by a trust or pool composed of 
mortgages.'' Instead, Congress used only the words ``backed by a 
mortgage.'' HUD believes that the best way to give that distinction 
meaning, as required under the case law, is to read the narrower phrase 
to encompass only those securities that are backed directly by 
mortgages (i.e., MBS) as opposed to securities that are backed directly 
by a trust of securities that are ultimately backed by mortgages (i.e., 
Multiclass Securities).
    This reading is supported by nearby statutory language in section 
306(g)(3) of the Ginnie Mae Charter. As the Supreme Court has 
explained, ``[t]he plainness or ambiguity of statutory language is 
determined by reference to the language itself, the specific context in 
which that language is used, and the broader context of the statute as 
a whole.'' \8\ The language of section 306(g)(3) of the Ginnie Mae 
Charter refers differently to MBS and to Multiclass Securities in a way 
that supports reading section 309(b) of the Act to apply only to MBS. 
In sections 306(g)(3)(A) and (B) of the Ginnie Mae Charter, Congress 
describes MBS as ``securities or notes based on or backed by 
mortgages.'' In contrast, in section 306(g)(3)(E) of the Ginnie Mae 
Charter, Congress refers distinctly to Multiclass Securities as being 
``backed by a trust or pool of securities or notes guaranteed by 
[Ginnie Mae].'' Put more simply, section 306(g)(3) of the Ginnie Mae 
Charter describes MBS as securities backed by mortgages and describes 
Multiclass Securities differently as securities backed by a trust or 
pool of securities or notes, even though Multiclass Securities 
ultimately also are backed by mortgages. The narrow language of section 
309(b) of the Act --``a security backed by a mortgage''--appears 
intended to track the description of MBS in section 306(g)(3)(A) and 
(B) of the Ginnie Mae Charter and not to include Multiclass Securities 
as described in section 306(g)(3)(E) of the Ginnie Mae Charter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 337, 341, 117 S. Ct. 
843, 846 (1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, this interpretation of section 309(b) of the Act is 
supported by a holistic reading of section 309. Other provisions in 
this section refer explicitly to MBS, but none refers to Multiclass 
Securities. In section 309(c) of the Act, for example, the statute 
imposes reporting requirements on Ginnie Mae to allow it to monitor the 
effectiveness of the Act in regards to MBS, but the provision does not 
reference Multiclass Securities. This strongly implies that MBS were 
the only securities targeted by Congress in section 309 of the Act, and 
that section 309(b) of the Act therefore does not apply to Multiclass 
Securities.
    Lastly, this reading is supported by the heading of section 309(b) 
of the Act--``Loan Seasoning for Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed 
Securities.'' The heading refers only to MBS and makes no reference to 
Multiclass Securities. The Supreme Court has said that ``the title of a 
statute or section can aid in resolving ambiguity in the legislation's 
text.'' \9\ Thus, to the extent section 309(b) of the Act is ambiguous, 
its heading clarifies its limited application to MBS only.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ INS v. National Center for Immigrants Rights Inc, 502 U.S. 
183 (1991).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Inconsistency With Purpose of Statute

    HUD's interpretation of section 309(b) of the Act is also 
consistent with the purposes of both section 309 of the Act and the 
Ginnie Mae Charter. A contrary reading would prohibit Ginnie Mae from 
guaranteeing all new Multiclass Securities ultimately backed by any 
prohibited mortgage, including Multiclass Securities composed solely of 
securities lawfully guaranteed prior to enactment of the Act. 
Prohibiting Ginnie Mae from guaranteeing such securities would harm, 
not help, veterans and would therefore contravene the purposes of 
section 309 of the Act and the Ginnie Mae Charter.
    1. Anti-Churning. As noted, section 309 of the Act was intended to 
protect both veterans and investors by discouraging the unfair lending 
practice of ``churning.'' By prohibiting Ginnie Mae from guaranteeing 
MBS containing any loans refinanced in violation of the seasoning 
requirements, the Act decreases the marketability of these loans and 
thereby motivates lenders to avoid such practices in the future. By 
contrast, prohibiting Ginnie Mae's ability to guarantee Multiclass 
Securities containing MBS that were guaranteed by Ginnie Mae prior to 
the Act becoming law can have no impact on lender behavior. The lender 
cannot change the circumstances surrounding the production of a loan 
securitized and sold prior to the enactment of the Act. Further, it may 
be unknowable whether the previously guaranteed MBS or previously 
issued Multiclass Security would comply with section 309(b) of the Act 
because assuring and tracking compliance with the seasoning 
requirements in the Act were not requirements for Ginnie Mae securities 
prior to the Act's enactment. To interpret the prohibition of section 
309(b) of the Act to include Multiclass Securities, therefore, is to 
sanction a measure that does not advance the legislative aim of 
decreasing the financial motives of lenders to engage in the predatory 
practices at issue.
    2. Protection of Veterans. Interpreting section 309(b) of the Act 
to prohibit the guarantee of Multiclass Securities composed of trust 
assets that consist of direct or indirect interests in certificates 
with underlying VA mortgage loans that were guaranteed prior to the 
enactment of the statute would also have a negative impact on the 
liquidity of the Multiclass Securities market, driving up VA mortgage 
rates and restricting the availability of the VA mortgage loans to the 
very veterans that the statute was intended to protect.

[[Page 31045]]

    The Act enacted several legislative changes, including section 309, 
that were aimed at protecting veterans from predatory lending practices 
in connection with refinancing activity and preserving the relatively 
low rates created by Ginnie Mae guarantees without the adverse impact 
of high prepayment speeds.\10\ The broader purpose of these provisions 
is to benefit veterans by providing them with affordable housing. 
Indeed, section 309(b) of the Act is titled ``Protecting Veterans from 
Predatory Lending.'' This is also one of the purposes of the Ginnie Mae 
Charter, which was amended by section 309(b) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See e.g., section 302 (limits, and establishes a dispute 
process and verification procedures with respect to, the inclusion 
of a veteran's medical debt in a consumer credit report); section 
313 (makes permanent the one-year grace period during which a 
servicemember is protected from foreclosure after leaving military 
service)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under settled precedent, Section 309(b) of the Act cannot be 
construed in a way that would frustrate the purposes of either Section 
309 of the Act or the Ginnie Mae Charter. The Supreme Court has 
instructed that courts ``cannot interpret federal statutes to negate 
their own stated purposes.'' \11\ Moreover, a statutory provision that 
may seem ``ambiguous in isolation is often clarified by the remainder 
of the statutory scheme . . . because only one of the permissible 
meanings produces a substantive effect that is compatible with the rest 
of the law.'' \12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ New York State Dept. of Social Servs. v. Dublino, 413 U.S. 
405, 419-420 (1973).
    \12\ United Sav. Assn. of Tex. v. Timbers of Inwood Forest 
Associates, Ltd., 484 U.S. 365, 371 (1988).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    But to conclude that section 309(b) of the Act precludes the 
guarantee of Multiclass Securities collateralized by MBS and Multiclass 
Securities previously and lawfully issued by Ginnie Mae also would 
frustrate the purpose of these statutes. Precluding existing MBS and 
Multiclass Securities--where it is now difficult, if not practically 
impossible, to assess compliance with Section 309(b) of the Act would 
potentially ``orphan'' billions of dollars worth of outstanding Ginnie 
Mae securities that were validly guaranteed under prior law. This is 
because they never could be incorporated into Multiclass Securities 
after the enactment of the Act. This would frustrate the reasonable 
expectations of Ginnie Mae investors who purchased Ginnie Mae MBS at 
prices that explicitly contemplated their ultimate inclusion in 
Multiclass Securities. Because these securities would then decrease in 
value, the end result would be increased interest rates for veterans. 
Given that this would harm, rather than help, veterans, it is difficult 
to imagine that Congress intended to cause significant disruption to 
the Multiclass Securities program beyond what was needed to stop the 
undesirable lending practices on a prospective basis. Further, 
restricting the inclusion of existing MBS and previously issued 
Multiclass Securities as eligible collateral would not decrease the 
amount of risk to Ginnie Mae and the investors since the certificates 
are already guaranteed.

III. Conclusion

    For the reasons described above, it is HUD's interpretation that as 
of the enactment of the Act, any VA refinanced mortgage loan that does 
not meet the seasoning requirements contained in section 309(b) the Act 
is ineligible to serve as collateral for Ginnie Mae MBS. Ginnie Mae MBS 
guaranteed before the enactment of the Act, that contain VA refinanced 
mortgage loans that do not meet the seasoning requirements contained in 
the Act, are unaffected by the Act. For Multiclass Securities, the Act 
permits Ginnie Mae to guarantee Multiclass Securities even where the 
trust assets consist of direct or indirect interest in certificates 
guaranteed by Ginnie Mae without regard to whether the underlying VA 
mortgage loans are in compliance with the seasoning requirements in 
section 309(b) of the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comment

    This interpretive rule represents HUD's interpretation of section 
309(b) of the Act and, as such, is exempt from the notice and comment 
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.\13\ Nevertheless, HUD 
is interested in receiving feedback from the public on this 
interpretation, specifically with respect to clarity and scope.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A).

    Dated: June 25, 2018.
J. Paul Compton, Jr.,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2018-14354 Filed 6-29-18; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
31042 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 3, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

Accordingly, for the reasons (ii) In the absence of such Residential from making guarantees in this context.
discussed in the preamble, HUD amends Combination Inspector and Although interpretive rules are exempt
24 CFR part 200 as follows: Combination Inspector, the lender shall from public comment under the
obtain an inspection performed by a Administrative Procedure Act, HUD
PART 200—INTRODUCTION TO FHA third party, who is a registered architect, nevertheless invites public comment on
PROGRAMS a professional engineer, or a trades the interpretation provided in this rule.
person or contractor, and who has met DATES:
■ 1. The authority citation for part 200 the licensing and bonding requirements Effective date: This interpretive rule is
continues to read as follows: of the State in which the property is effective June 29, 2018, and is
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1702–1715z–21; 42 located. The lender shall provide a applicable beginning June 25, 2018.
U.S.C. 3535(d). certification from such inspector that Comment due date: August 2, 2018.
■ 2. In § 200.145, add paragraph (c) to the inspector is licensed and bonded ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
read as follows: under applicable State law, and that the invited to submit comments regarding
new construction and/or structural this interpretive rule to the Regulations
§ 200.145 Property and mortgage repair or renovation work is completed
assessment. Division, Office of General Counsel,
satisfactorily and in compliance with
Department of Housing and Urban
* * * * * any applicable building code.
Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room
(c) For all new construction as well as 10276, Washington, DC 20410–0500.
§§ 200.170 through 200.172 [Removed]
structural repairs and/or renovations of Communications must refer to the above
existing properties, to the extent that an ■ 3. Remove the undesignated center
heading ‘‘FHA Inspector Roster’’ and docket number and title. There are two
inspection is required to determine if methods for submitting public
construction quality of a one- to four- §§ 200.170 through 200.172.
comments. All submissions must refer
unit property is acceptable as security Dated: June 26, 2018. to the above docket number and title.
for an FHA-insured loan, the following Brian D. Montgomery, 1. Submission of Comments by Mail.
requirements apply: Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Comments may be submitted by mail to
(1)(i) In areas where local Housing Commissioner. the Regulations Division, Office of
jurisdictions provide building code [FR Doc. 2018–14212 Filed 7–2–18; 8:45 am] General Counsel, Department of
enforcement and the requisite BILLING CODE 4210–67–P Housing and Urban Development, 451
documentation, the lender shall provide 7th Street SW, Room 10276,
a copy of: Washington, DC 20410–0500. Due to
(A) The building permit, or its DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND security measures at all Federal
equivalent, and a copy of the certificate URBAN DEVELOPMENT agencies, however, submission of
of occupancy, or its equivalent; or comments by mail often results in
(B) A satisfactory inspection notice for 24 CFR Part 330
delayed delivery. To ensure timely
work completed, or its equivalent. [Docket No. FR–6112–IA–01] receipt of comments, HUD recommends
(ii) The documentation provided that comments submitted by mail be
under paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section Government National Mortgage submitted at least two weeks in advance
shall be considered satisfactory Association: Loan Seasoning for of the public comment deadline.
evidence of completion of the work. Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed 2. Electronic Submission of
(2) In jurisdictions that do not provide Securities—Interpretive Rule Comments. Interested persons may
building code enforcement and requisite AGENCY: Office of General Counsel, submit comments electronically through
documentation, three inspections are HUD. the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
required for new construction. For www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly
ACTION: Interpretive rule.
existing construction, only one encourages commenters to submit
inspection and certification of work SUMMARY: HUD is issuing this comments electronically. Electronic
completed for structural repairs and interpretive rule to clarify the scope of submission of comments allows the
renovations is required. For both new the provision of the recently enacted commenter maximum time to prepare
and existing construction, the lender Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and submit a comment, ensures timely
shall, in order to ensure compliance and Consumer Protection Act (Act) that receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to
with FHA requirements: prohibits the Government National make them immediately available to the
(i) Select a Residential Combination Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) from public. Comments submitted
Inspector (or its successor designation) guaranteeing the timely payment of electronically through the
or a Combination Inspector (or its principal and interest on a security that www.regulations.gov website can be
successor designation) certified by the is ‘‘backed by a mortgage’’ that fails to viewed by other commenters and
International Code Council (or its meet certain ‘‘seasoning’’ requirements. interested members of the public.
successor organization) who is licensed With this new amendment, questions Commenters should follow the
or certified as a home inspector in have arisen as to the effect of this instructions provided on that site to
accordance with the applicable State provision on Ginnie Mae’s ability to submit comments electronically.
and local requirements governing the guarantee Multiclass Securities where Note: To receive consideration as
licensing or certification of those the trust assets consist of direct or public comments, comments must be
jurisdictions that license or certify such indirect interests in certificates, submitted through one of the two
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

inspectors in the respective jurisdiction. previously lawfully guaranteed by methods specified above. Again, all
The lender shall provide a certification Ginnie Mae, but with underlying submissions must refer to the docket
from such inspector that the new mortgage loans that may not be in number and title of the rule.
construction and/or structural repair or compliance with the seasoning No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile
renovation work is completed requirements. This rule provides HUD’s (FAX) comments are not acceptable.
satisfactorily and in compliance with interpretation that the statutory Public Inspection of Public
any applicable building code. provision does not prohibit Ginnie Mae Comments. All properly submitted

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:05 Jul 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\03JYR1.SGM 03JYR1
31044 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 3, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

to guarantee as those ‘‘backed by a trust language is used, and the broader B. Inconsistency With Purpose of Statute
or pool composed of mortgages,’’ context of the statute as a whole.’’ 8 The
language that has long been understood language of section 306(g)(3) of the HUD’s interpretation of section 309(b)
by Congress and HUD to encompass Ginnie Mae Charter refers differently to of the Act is also consistent with the
both MBS and Multiclass Securities. See MBS and to Multiclass Securities in a purposes of both section 309 of the Act
Letter from Nelson Diaz to Dwight P. way that supports reading section 309(b) and the Ginnie Mae Charter. A contrary
Robinson (June 27, 1994). However, the of the Act to apply only to MBS. In reading would prohibit Ginnie Mae
language added by section 309(b) of the from guaranteeing all new Multiclass
sections 306(g)(3)(A) and (B) of the
Act does not use similarly broad Securities ultimately backed by any
Ginnie Mae Charter, Congress describes
language—it refers only to those prohibited mortgage, including
MBS as ‘‘securities or notes based on or
securities that are ‘‘backed by a Multiclass Securities composed solely
backed by mortgages.’’ In contrast, in
mortgage.’’ It is a well-settled principle of securities lawfully guaranteed prior
section 306(g)(3)(E) of the Ginnie Mae
of statutory interpretation that ‘‘the use to enactment of the Act. Prohibiting
Charter, Congress refers distinctly to Ginnie Mae from guaranteeing such
of different words within the same Multiclass Securities as being ‘‘backed
statutory context strongly suggests that securities would harm, not help,
by a trust or pool of securities or notes veterans and would therefore
different meanings were intended.’’ 6 In guaranteed by [Ginnie Mae].’’ Put more
addition, ‘‘a statute should be contravene the purposes of section 309
simply, section 306(g)(3) of the Ginnie of the Act and the Ginnie Mae Charter.
constructed so that effect is given to all
Mae Charter describes MBS as securities
of its provisions, so that no part will be 1. Anti-Churning. As noted, section
backed by mortgages and describes
inoperative or superfluous, void or 309 of the Act was intended to protect
insignificant.’’ 7 Under these principles, Multiclass Securities differently as
both veterans and investors by
Congress’s decision to use only the securities backed by a trust or pool of
discouraging the unfair lending practice
words ‘‘backed by a mortgage,’’ as securities or notes, even though
of ‘‘churning.’’ By prohibiting Ginnie
compared to ‘‘backed by a trust or pool Multiclass Securities ultimately also are
Mae from guaranteeing MBS containing
composed of mortgages,’’ should be backed by mortgages. The narrow
any loans refinanced in violation of the
given meaning. language of section 309(b) of the Act
seasoning requirements, the Act
To give meaning to the narrower —‘‘a security backed by a mortgage’’— decreases the marketability of these
language in section 309(b) of the Act, appears intended to track the loans and thereby motivates lenders to
that provision should be read to description of MBS in section avoid such practices in the future. By
reference a narrower class of securities 306(g)(3)(A) and (B) of the Ginnie Mae contrast, prohibiting Ginnie Mae’s
(MBS) than all of the securities long Charter and not to include Multiclass ability to guarantee Multiclass
understood to be covered by the broader Securities as described in section Securities containing MBS that were
language of section 306(g) the of Ginnie 306(g)(3)(E) of the Ginnie Mae Charter. guaranteed by Ginnie Mae prior to the
Mae Charter (both MBS and Multiclass In addition, this interpretation of Act becoming law can have no impact
Securities). Had Congress intended section 309(b) of the Act is supported by on lender behavior. The lender cannot
section 309(b) of the Act to encompass a holistic reading of section 309. Other change the circumstances surrounding
Multiclass Securities as well as MBS, it provisions in this section refer explicitly the production of a loan securitized and
would have employed the broader sold prior to the enactment of the Act.
to MBS, but none refers to Multiclass
language known to encompass both Further, it may be unknowable whether
Securities. In section 309(c) of the Act,
types of securities—i.e., ‘‘backed by a the previously guaranteed MBS or
for example, the statute imposes
trust or pool composed of mortgages.’’ previously issued Multiclass Security
reporting requirements on Ginnie Mae
Instead, Congress used only the words would comply with section 309(b) of the
‘‘backed by a mortgage.’’ HUD believes to allow it to monitor the effectiveness
of the Act in regards to MBS, but the Act because assuring and tracking
that the best way to give that distinction compliance with the seasoning
meaning, as required under the case provision does not reference Multiclass
Securities. This strongly implies that requirements in the Act were not
law, is to read the narrower phrase to
MBS were the only securities targeted requirements for Ginnie Mae securities
encompass only those securities that are
by Congress in section 309 of the Act, prior to the Act’s enactment. To
backed directly by mortgages (i.e., MBS)
and that section 309(b) of the Act interpret the prohibition of section
as opposed to securities that are backed
therefore does not apply to Multiclass 309(b) of the Act to include Multiclass
directly by a trust of securities that are
Securities. Securities, therefore, is to sanction a
ultimately backed by mortgages (i.e.,
measure that does not advance the
Multiclass Securities). Lastly, this reading is supported by
This reading is supported by nearby legislative aim of decreasing the
the heading of section 309(b) of the
statutory language in section 306(g)(3) of financial motives of lenders to engage in
Act—‘‘Loan Seasoning for Ginnie Mae the predatory practices at issue.
the Ginnie Mae Charter. As the Supreme Mortgage-Backed Securities.’’ The
Court has explained, ‘‘[t]he plainness or heading refers only to MBS and makes 2. Protection of Veterans. Interpreting
ambiguity of statutory language is no reference to Multiclass Securities. section 309(b) of the Act to prohibit the
determined by reference to the language The Supreme Court has said that ‘‘the guarantee of Multiclass Securities
itself, the specific context in which that title of a statute or section can aid in composed of trust assets that consist of
resolving ambiguity in the legislation’s direct or indirect interests in certificates
6 United States v. Maria, 186 F.3d 65, 71 (2d Cir.
text.’’ 9 Thus, to the extent section with underlying VA mortgage loans that
1999) (citing Crockett Telephone Co. v. F.C.C., 963 were guaranteed prior to the enactment
309(b) of the Act is ambiguous, its
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES

F.2d 1564, 1570 (D.C. Cir. 1992) and other cases);
see also A. Scalia & B. Garner, Reading Law: The heading clarifies its limited application of the statute would also have a negative
Interpretation of Legal Texts 170 (2012) (‘‘[W]here to MBS only. impact on the liquidity of the Multiclass
the document has used one term in one place, and Securities market, driving up VA
a materially different term in another, the mortgage rates and restricting the
presumption is that the different term denotes a 8 Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 337, 341, 117

different idea.’’). S. Ct. 843, 846 (1997). availability of the VA mortgage loans to
7 Marx v. General Revenue Corp., 568 U.S. 371, 9 INS v. National Center for Immigrants Rights the very veterans that the statute was
392–93 (2013). Inc, 502 U.S. 183 (1991). intended to protect.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:05 Jul 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\03JYR1.SGM 03JYR1
Document Created: 2018-07-02 23:55:42
Document Modified: 2018-07-02 23:55:42
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Interpretive rule.
Dates		Effective date: This interpretive rule is effective June 29, 2018, and is applicable beginning June 25, 2018.
Contact		Kevin M. Simpson, Associate General Counsel for Finance and Administrative Law, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 8150, Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202-402-2036. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.
FR Citation		83 FR 31042